Burnley

Family life changed for many in Burnley in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in relationships, housing tenure and marriage.

The population decreased

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Burnley fell by 2.8%, from just over 89,500 to 87,100.

The loss of just over 2,000 people means this area's population decreased by 2.8% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Burnley was home to, on average, 5.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Burnley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Burnley increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 10 and 19 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 12% of people in Burnley are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Burnley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Burnley saw England's largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households in Burnley had at least one dependent child, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 57% to 60%.

Redbridge saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of households with children (from 33% to 39%).

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Burnley residents that were unemployed increased from 3.1% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of Burnley residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.2%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in Burnley close to the national average 4.4% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of unemployment in Burnley increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Burnley, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Burnley saw the North West's third-largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households in Burnley had only one person, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.9% to 10%.

Across the region, only Barrow-in-Furness (from 30% to 35%) and Hyndburn (from 29% to 32%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of one-person households.

During this period, Burnley overtook 10 local authority areas, including Tameside and Copeland, to become the North West local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Burnley

The percentage of Burnley residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.6% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of Burnley residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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